JP7795902B2 - Item management device, item management method, program, and item management system - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an item management device, an item management method, a program, and an item management system.

When printing letters or graphics on objects such as cardboard, a printing plate is used, which has a printing relief pattern on the surface of a film-like sheet. These printing plates are assigned a control number, and when not in use for printing, they are stored in a rack numbered corresponding to the plate's control number (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the rack described in Patent Document 1, a rod-shaped support that grips the top end of the printing plate is inserted into a hollow storage cylinder with a slit, allowing the printing plate to be stored with the substrate suspended from the slit. However, in the past, workers had to compare the control number of the printing plate with the number on the storage cylinder while inserting and removing the printing plate, so if a worker mistakenly stored a printing plate in a storage cylinder with a different number, it became difficult to find the printing plate the next time it was used.

Meanwhile, technology for managing printing plates using RFID has also been disclosed (Patent Document 2). In this technology, printing plates are stored randomly on a rack. Each printing plate is assigned a printing plate ID in advance, and a transmitter such as an RFID that emits a signal corresponding to the printing plate ID is attached to the support (printing plate rack) that hangs and holds each printing plate. Positional information for the printing plate is obtained based on the signal from this transmitter, and based on this positional information, a transport device picks up the desired printing plate from the rack and transports it to the printing press. In addition to printing plates, technology has also been developed that uses RFID technology to automatically manage the storage status of various items by computer.

However, with the technology described in Patent Document 2, the position information of the printing plates is determined from information about the order in which they are stored in the rack or by analyzing the strength of the signal from the transmitter, which poses a problem with the accuracy of the position information.

JP 2015-30270 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-99451

This disclosure has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and aims to enable more accurate acquisition of location information for items placed in and removed from storage devices, thereby enabling more appropriate item management.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the item management device disclosed herein is an item management device that manages items stored in a storage device having multiple partitioned storage sections, and includes: a memory unit that stores management information for the items; an identification unit that acquires information including identification information from electronic tags attached to the items and identifies the items that have been placed in or removed from the storage section based on the identification information and the management information acquired from the memory unit; a location information acquisition unit that acquires photographed images of the area near the multiple storage sections and acquires location information for the items that have been placed in or removed based on the photographed images; and a registration unit that registers management information in the memory unit that associates the identification information, the location information, and the state of placement and removal.

This disclosure makes it possible to obtain location information for items taken in and out of storage devices with greater accuracy, enabling more appropriate item management.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an item management system including an item management device according to a first embodiment. 1B is a front view showing an enlarged portion of the storage body of the storage rack shown in FIG. 1A. 1 is a block diagram of an article management system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a management information table. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an item management screen displayed on a display unit. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of operations of an item management device in the item management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an article management system including an article management device according to a second embodiment. 6B is a front view showing an enlarged portion of the storage body of the storage rack shown in FIG. 6A.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. To facilitate understanding, identical components in each drawing will be designated by the same reference numerals whenever possible, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment of the item management device 50 and item management system 100 shown in Figures 1A to 2, as well as the item management method (program) executed by them, are a printing plate management device, printing plate management system, and printing plate management method (program) for managing ``printing plates'' used for printing on items such as cardboard boards.

As shown in Figures 1A and 2, the item management system 100 according to the first embodiment includes electronic tags 13 (13-1, 13-2, ... 13-n) attached to stamping plates 10-1, 10-2, ... 10-n (n is a natural number. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as "stamping plates 10." The same applies to other components.), a storage rack 20, an RFID reader (reading device) 30, a camera (imaging device) 40, and an item management device 50.

The printing plates 10 are used to print letters and figures on objects such as cardboard, and are objects to be managed in this embodiment. For each object, a number of printing plates 10 is used depending on the number of colors being printed. Specifically, one printing plate 10 is used for one-color printing, two printing plates 10 for two-color printing, and three printing plates 10 for three-color printing, and each object is assigned a serial number. Therefore, printing plates 10 used to print the same object are also assigned the same serial number.

The printing plate 10 comprises a printing plate body 11, a pair of supports 12 (12a, 12b), and an electronic tag 13. It is stored suspended in the storage body 22 of the storage rack 20 (described below). The printing plate body 11 comprises a sheet body 111 and a relief plate 112. The sheet body 111 is composed of a flexible rectangular resin film, metal film, or the like, made of resin, metal, or the like. The relief plate 112 is a printing member provided on the surface of the sheet body 111. In addition, an ID number 113, which is an identification number that identifies the printing plate 10, is affixed to the surface of the sheet body 111 by printing, handwriting, affixing a sticker, or the like. This ID number 113 can be, for example, a serial number for the object corresponding to the printing plate 10. However, when multiple printing plates 10 are used for a single print job in multi-color printing, it can be a serial number plus an identifier (e.g., a branch number, color identification number, etc.). Furthermore, if there are multiple storage racks 20 and each storage rack 20 is assigned an identifier, the ID number 113 can be a combination of the storage rack 20's identifier and serial number. This allows the item management device 50 to more appropriately manage the stamping plates 10, and makes it easier for users (workers) to confirm the storage location of the stamping plates 10, further improving work efficiency. In this embodiment, the storage racks 20 are assigned identifiers such as "A" and "B," and the ID number 113 of the stamping plates 10 is a combination of these identifiers and serial numbers (e.g., "A-001," "B-001") (see Figure 1, etc.).

In addition, the same number as this ID number 113 is assigned as a control number to the storage section 23 (described below) of the storage rack 20 that stores each stamping plate 10. Therefore, the worker can compare the ID number 113 of the stamping plate 10 with the control number of the storage section 23 and store the stamping plate 10 in the designated storage section 23.

A pair of supports 12 (12a, 12b) are attached to the upper and lower edges of the printing plate body 11 when it is hung from the storage rack 20. Each support 12a, 12b is a plate-like member that is elongated in the longitudinal direction along the upper and lower edges of the sheet body 111 of the printing plate body 11 and has a substantially uniform thickness. They support the printing plate body 11 by clamping the upper and lower edges of the printing plate body 11 from both sides of the sheet body 111, respectively.

In this embodiment, the electronic tag 13 is a passive RFID tag that does not have a built-in battery. However, the electronic tag 13 is not limited to this, and it is also possible to use an active RFID tag that has a built-in battery and constantly emits a signal, or a semi-active RFID tag that emits a signal only in specific cases, thereby reducing battery consumption compared to active types. An appropriate tag can be used taking into account the items to be managed, the purpose of management, costs, etc.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic tag 13 comprises an antenna unit 131 and an IC chip 132. The antenna unit 131 receives a first radio wave RW1 transmitted from a sheet antenna 32 of the RFID reader 30 (described below), converts the received first radio wave RW1 into electricity, and supplies the electricity to the IC chip 132. The IC chip 132 has an internal memory that stores information including an identification number, and receives power from the antenna unit 131 to control the antenna unit 131 and transmit a second radio wave RW2 that includes the identification number.

The identification number stored in the IC chip 132 is a number used to identify the stamping plate 10, which is an item. In this embodiment, the identification number is the same as the ID number 113 of the stamping plate 10, but is not limited to this and may be a unique identification number associated with the ID number 113.

In this embodiment, the electronic tag 13 is located in the longitudinal center of one of the support members 12a, which is the upper member when stored in the storage rack 20. Note that an electronic tag 13 may also be located in the longitudinal center of the other support member 12b so that the printing plate 10 can be properly identified even if it is stored upside down in the storage rack 20.

The storage rack 20 is a storage device for hanging and storing multiple printing plates 10. The storage rack 20 comprises a frame 21 and a storage body 22. The frame 21 is a member that supports the storage body 22 and the stored printing plates 10, and is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. The storage body 22 is located between a pair of side frames 211a, 211b that are arranged opposite each other in the Z direction of the frame 21.

In this specification, the X, Y, and Z axes are defined as shown in Figure 1A, with the X direction being the longitudinal direction of the rectangular printing plate 10 stored in the storage rack 20 and the depth direction of the storage rack 20, and the Y direction being the lateral direction of the printing plate 10 and the up-and-down direction (vertical direction) of the printing plate 10 and the storage rack 20. The Z direction is the width direction of the storage rack 20, perpendicular to the X and Y directions.

The storage body 22 has multiple partitioned storage sections 23 (23-1, 23-2, ..., 23-n) and a label section 24. The multiple storage sections 23 are arranged side by side in the Z direction. Each storage section 23 is composed of a hollow rectangular tube (rail member) that is long in the longitudinal direction (X direction) and made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. It has insertion openings 231 (231-1, 231-2, ..., 231-n) that open at both ends in the Z direction, grooves 232 (232-1, 232-2, ..., 232-n) that penetrate the lower wall and extend long in the X direction, and storage spaces 233 (233-1, 233-2, ..., 233-n) that store the support 12.

The length of each storage section 23 in the X direction is shorter than the length of the support 12 for the stamping plate 10, allowing the stamping plate 10 to be stored near its center within the storage space 233. The height (length in the Y direction) of the insertion opening 231 of each storage section 23 and the storage space 233 is formed to be approximately the same as or slightly higher than the height of the support 12, so that the support 12 can be inserted and removed freely.

Each storage section 23 is assigned a management number ranging from 1 to n (1 to 50 in Figure 1). The label section 24 is provided above the storage section 23, on the surface of the storage main body 22 on the front side. The label section 24 displays the management number of each storage section 23.

In the storage rack 20 configured as described above, the operator inserts one support 12a of the printing plate 10 into the storage space 233 through the insertion opening 231 of each storage section 23, and then moves the printing plate 10 in the X direction along the groove 232 to position the support 12 within the storage space 233. This allows the printing plate 10 to be stored in the storage section 23.

In this embodiment, the storage rack 20 is provided with one storage body 22 having 50 storage sections 23 (23-1 to 23-50), and the storage rack 20 can store up to 50 stamping plates 10 (10-1 to 10-50). However, the configuration of the storage rack 20 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the storage rack 20 can be configured with two or more storage bodies 22 arranged vertically and with 100 or more storage sections 23, allowing it to store more than 100 stamping plates 10.

The storage rack 20 has an RFID reader 30 installed in the storage body 22. In this embodiment, the RFID reader 30 is built into the storage body 22, but this configuration is not limited to this. As a variation, the RFID reader 30 may be attached externally to the top of the storage body 22 or to another external surface. Furthermore, the storage rack 20 of this embodiment may be a newly manufactured storage rack with an internal or external RFID reader 30, or may be an existing storage rack with an internal or external RFID reader 30.

The RFID reader 30 reads information, including the ID number, from the electronic tag 13 of the stamping plate 10 and sends it to the item management device 50. The RFID reader 30 is capable of simultaneously reading information from multiple electronic tags 13 attached to multiple stamping plates 10 stored in the storage rack 20.

As shown in Figure 2, the RFID reader 30 comprises a reader body 31 and a sheet antenna 32. The reader body 31 and sheet antenna 32 are connected by an antenna cable 33.

The reader main body 31 acquires item information including the ID number from the second radio wave RW2 acquired by the sheet antenna 32, and sends a signal including the acquired item information and the time the item information was read (acquisition time) to the item management device 50. The reader main body 31 is equipped with a communication unit 311 that communicates with the item management device 50. The communication unit 311 is composed of, for example, a communication interface circuit, and is connected to the communication unit 55 of the item management device 50 (described below) via a communication cable 34 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, or wirelessly via Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or other means so that signals can be sent and received between them.

Under the control of the reader main body 31, the sheet antenna 32 transmits a first radio wave RW1 to the surrounding area, and by receiving this first radio wave RW1, receives a second radio wave RW2 transmitted by the electronic tag 13 and sends it to the reader main body 31. As shown in FIG. 1A, the sheet antenna 32 consists of a single sheet antenna that extends along the Z direction of the storage main body 22 to a length sufficient to encompass all of the storage sections 23. This configuration makes it possible to send and receive radio waves to and from the electronic tags 13 of the stamping plates 10 stored in each storage section 23. Note that the sheet antenna 32 is not limited to a configuration consisting of a single sheet antenna, and can also be configured to include multiple short sheet antennas arranged in the Z direction.

It is also desirable to prevent the RFID reader 30 from accidentally reading item information from the electronic tag 13 of a printing plate 10 that is not to be stored (not subject to management), in other words, to remove noise, when, for example, a worker holding the printing plate 10 simply passes near the storage rack 20. For this reason, this embodiment uses a sheet antenna 32 that has strong radio wave directivity in the Z direction, which is the arrangement direction of the storage sections 23, and weak radio wave directivity in the X direction, which is the depth direction. Furthermore, noise can also be appropriately removed by placing radio wave shielding members on both sides of the sheet antenna 32 in the X direction to limit the range in which the sheet antenna 32 can transmit and receive radio waves in the X direction.

The reader main body 31 can also be configured to monitor the number of times the second radio wave RW2 is received by the sheet antenna 32 for each electronic tag 13 and determine whether it is noise based on the number of times it is received. Specifically, if the number of times the second radio wave RW2 is received by the sheet antenna 32 from each electronic tag 13 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number within a predetermined time period (for example, if the sheet antenna 32 is transmitting the first radio wave RW1 10 times per second, the number of times it is received is equal to or greater than three times per second), the reader main body 31 determines that the radio wave is received from the electronic tag 13 of the stamp plate 10 under management, and sends the information obtained from the electronic tag 13 to the item management device 50. On the other hand, if the number of times the second radio wave RW2 is received is less than the predetermined number, the reader main body 31 discards the received second radio wave RW2 as noise.

Furthermore, instead of or in addition to determining the number of times the second radio wave RW2 is received, the reader main body 31 can also be configured to determine whether or not the second radio wave RW2 is noise based on its intensity. Specifically, if the second radio wave RW2 exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined to be a radio wave received from the electronic tag 13 of the stamp plate 10 to be managed, and if it is below the threshold, it is determined to be noise. Furthermore, the above determinations may be made not by the reader main body 31 but by the item management device 50 to which information is input from the reader main body 31.

The camera 40 captures images of the vicinity of the storage unit 23 and sends digital signals of the captured images to the item management device 50. The camera 40 is, for example, a digital video camera, and is positioned above the storage main body 22. The camera 40 is connected to the communication unit 55 of the item management device 50 via a wired communication cable 41, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, or wirelessly via Wi-Fi (registered trademark), so that signals can be sent and received between them.

The camera 40 is capable of capturing video images of a predetermined capture area, including the vicinity of the insertion openings 231 of all storage units 23, so that it can capture images of the printing plates 10 being inserted into and removed from all storage units 23. The number of cameras 40 is not limited to one, and multiple cameras may be installed, allowing for more appropriate capture of the vicinity of the insertion openings 231 of multiple storage units 23 lined up in the Z direction.

In addition, although the camera 40 continuously captures moving images of the capture area, it may also capture images when it receives an instruction to start capturing images from the control unit 51 (described below) of the item management device 50. In this case, the control unit 51 sends an instruction to start capturing images to the camera 40 when it detects the insertion or removal of the printing plate 10 based on the item information input from the RFID reader 30.

Furthermore, the camera 40 is not limited to capturing moving images; it may also capture still images at predetermined time intervals, as long as it can obtain positional information for the stamping plate 10 being inserted into or removed from the storage body 22 based on the captured images.

The item management device 50 manages the status of the printing plates 10 placed in and removed from the storage racks 20 based on item information input from the RFID reader 30 and captured images input from the camera 40. The item management device 50 is connected to the RFID readers 30 and cameras 40 provided on one or more storage racks 20, and collectively manages the printing plates 10 stored in one or more storage racks 20.

The item management device 50 manages the insertion and removal status of printing plates 10 into and from the storage rack 20 based on the item information and acquisition time input from the RFID reader 30 and the captured images input from the camera 40. The item management device 50 is composed of an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) or server, and peripheral devices. The item management device 50 includes a control unit 51, a memory unit 52, a display unit 53, an operation reception unit 54, a communication unit 55, and an alarm unit 56.

The control unit 51 controls the operation of the item management device 50 and provides overall control of the entire item management system 100. Specifically, the control unit 51 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The control unit 51 provides overall control of each unit of the item management device 50 through cooperation between the CPU and computer programs stored in the ROM and memory unit 52, which are deployed in the working area of the RAM.

In addition, by executing the item management application program, the control unit 51 functions as an identification unit 511, a location information acquisition unit 512, a determination unit 513, a registration unit 514, and a display control unit 515, as shown in FIG. 2.

The identification unit 511 acquires the item information, including the ID number, and the acquisition time input from the RFID reader 30. The item information acquired at this time is item information for stamping plates 10 that have been newly stored in one of the storage sections 23 of the storage main body 22, and stamping plates 10 that are already stored. In contrast, item information for stamping plates 10 that are not stored in the storage main body 22, i.e., stamping plates 10 that have been taken out, is not acquired.

The identification unit 511 then identifies the stamping plates 10 that have just been stored in the storage rack 20 and the stamping plates 10 that have just been removed, based on all the ID numbers extracted from all the acquired item information. Specifically, the identification unit 511 searches the management information table 522 stored in the memory unit 52, and compares the ID numbers of the stamping plates 10 stored there with the ID number of the stamping plate 10 that has just been acquired. If the identification unit 511 finds an ID number that is not stored in the management information table 522, it recognizes that the stamping plate 10 corresponding to that ID number has been newly stored in the storage body 22. The identification unit 511 then determines the acquisition time from the RFID reader 30 as the storage time when the stamping plate 10 was stored.

In response to this, when the identification unit 511 is unable to acquire any of the ID numbers of the stamping plates 10 stored in the management information table 522, it recognizes that the stamping plate 10 corresponding to that ID number has been removed from the storage body 22. The identification unit 511 then determines the acquisition time from the RFID reader 30 as the removal time of the stamping plate 10.

The location information acquisition unit 512 acquires the captured image input from the camera 40 and temporarily or non-temporarily stores it in the memory or storage unit 52. Furthermore, when the identification unit 511 recognizes that the stamp plate 10 has been removed or placed in, the location information acquisition unit 512 analyzes the captured image and acquires location information for the storage unit 23 from which the stamp plate 10 was removed or placed. In this embodiment, this location information is the management number assigned to the storage unit 23 from which the stamp plate 10 was removed or placed, as identified by image recognition. However, the location information is not limited to management information, and may be position coordinates (address) or a relative number on the image, with a specific position on the storage body 22 (for example, a specific part of the storage unit 23 with management number "1") as the origin.

More specifically, for example, the location information acquisition unit 512 analyzes the captured images for a predetermined period of time (for example, 15 seconds before and after, for a total of 30 seconds) before and after the storage time or removal time set in the identification unit 511. Through this analysis, when the location information acquisition unit 512 detects a newly stored stamp plate 10, it acquires location information for the storage unit 23 in which this stamp plate 10 is stored, and when it detects that a stamp plate 10 is missing (has been removed and is no longer present), it acquires location information for the storage unit 23 in which this missing plate occurred.

The determination unit 513 determines whether the stamping plate 10 has been stored in a predetermined appropriate storage unit 23. More specifically, when the identification unit 511 stores a new stamping plate 10, the determination unit 513 compares the ID number of the stamping plate 10 with the location information (e.g., the control number), and if they match (correspond), determines that the stamping plate 10 has been stored in the correct storage unit 23; if they do not match (do not correspond), determines that the stamping plate 10 has been stored in the wrong storage unit 23.

When the determination unit 513 determines that the printing plate 10 has been stored in the wrong storage unit 23, it controls the notification unit 56 to alert a user, such as a worker or manager, by light, vibration, buzzer sound, or voice (for example, "The storage location is incorrect. Please store it in the correct location."). When issuing a voice alert, the determination unit 513 may also notify the user of the management number (location information) of the correct storage unit 23 by voice, image display, etc.

In addition, if there is no need to issue an alert that the printing plate 10 has been stored in the wrong storage section 23, and it is sufficient to simply know the insertion/removal status and position information of the printing plate 10, it is possible to omit the judgment unit 513 and not judge or notify whether the storage section 23 is appropriate. The specifications of the item management device 50 can be designed appropriately according to the user's needs.

The registration unit 514 updates (registers) the management information in the management information table 522 of the storage unit 52 for stamp plates 10 that have been taken in or out. More specifically, when a new stamp plate 10 is stored, the ID number and storage time of the stamp plate 10 acquired by the identification unit 511 are set in the management information record corresponding to the management number, which is the location information of the storage unit 23, and the management information table 522 is updated. On the other hand, when a stamp plate 10 is removed, the ID number of the stamp plate 10 in the management number record corresponding to the management number is deleted (set to blank or null), the removal time is set, the number of uses is counted up, and the management information table 522 is updated.

The display control unit 515 generates display control signals for displaying various screens on the display unit 53 and sends them to the display unit 53. The display control unit 515 also acquires management information from the management information table 522 in the memory unit 52, and based on the acquired management information, generates display control signals for displaying the item management screen G1 (see Figure 4) and sends them to the display unit 53.

The memory unit 52 is composed of a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or semiconductor memory, and is capable of writing and reading data and programs. The memory unit 52 also stores various programs executed by the control unit 51, such as various system programs, application programs, and inventory management application programs. The memory unit 52 also temporarily or non-temporarily stores parameter data used by the various programs and data acquired or calculated by the various programs.

The memory unit 52 also has a management information table 522 in which management information is stored. If there are multiple storage racks 20, a management information table 522 may be provided in the memory unit 52 for each storage rack 20. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the management information table 522. As shown in Figure 3, the management information table 522 stores management information consisting of "management number," "ID number," "storage time," "removal time," "number of uses," etc. for each management number assigned to the storage section 23 of the storage rack 20.

The "management number" is the management number (location information) assigned to the storage unit 23. The "ID number" is the ID number of the stamping plate 10 stored in the storage unit 23 corresponding to the management number. When this ID number is set, it can be recognized that the stamping plate 10 is stored in the storage unit 23 corresponding to the management number. When no ID number is set, it can be recognized that the stamping plate 10 is not stored (removed) from the storage unit 23 corresponding to the management number. The "storage time" is the time when the stamping plate 10 was stored in the storage unit 23, i.e., the acquisition time when the RFID reader 30 first acquired information from the electronic tag 13 of the stamping plate 10. The "removal time" is the time when the stamping plate 10 was removed from the storage unit 23, i.e., the acquisition time when information from the electronic tag 13 of the stamping plate 10 could no longer be acquired. The "number of uses" is the number of times the stamping plate 10 has been used, i.e., the number of times it has been removed from the storage unit 23. The "number of uses" is counted up when it is detected that the stamping plate 10 has been taken out, but it may also be counted up when it is detected that the stamping plate 10 has been stored (when a used stamping plate 10 is returned to the storage section 23).

The display unit 53 is configured, for example, by a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence). The display unit 53 can also be configured by a touch panel display equipped with a touch panel. The display unit 53 displays various screens on the display surface in accordance with the instructions of a display control signal input from the display control unit 515 of the control unit 51. The display unit 53 also displays the item management screen G1 shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with the instructions of a display control signal input from the display control unit 515.

As shown in Figure 4, the item management screen G1 displays a list for each storage rack 20, in which the management number of each storage section 23 of that storage rack 20 is associated with the status of the stamping plate 10 being inserted or removed. For example, if an ID number is set in the "ID number" field of the management information and the stamping plate 10 is stored, the status can be displayed as "In storage," or if no ID number is set in the "ID number" field and the stamping plate 10 has been removed, the status can be displayed as "Removed." Additionally, "In storage" can be represented by a "◯" or "ID number," and "Removed" can be represented by an "X" or "blank." Displaying the "ID number" makes it easier for the user to notice when the stamping plate 10 has been stored in the wrong storage section 23.

The information on the item management screen G1 is not limited to the management number and status, and may also display the ID number of the stored stamping plate 10, the storage time, the removal time, and the number of uses. By visually checking this item management screen G1, the user can properly understand whether the stamping plate 10 is in storage or being removed. Furthermore, if the number of uses is displayed, the user can also determine the degree of wear of the stamping plate 10, which can be useful information when determining when to replace it or when to prepare a spare stamping plate 10.

The operation reception unit 54 includes, for example, a keyboard having character input keys, number input keys, and other keys associated with various functions, a pointing device such as a mouse, etc. Furthermore, when the display unit 53 is equipped with a touch panel, this touch panel can serve as the operation reception unit 54. The operation reception unit 54 receives operation input from the user and sends an operation signal corresponding to the operation input to the control unit 51.

The communication unit 55 is a communication interface that includes a communication IC (Integrated Circuit) and a communication connector. Under the control of the control unit 51, the communication unit 55 communicates data with the RFID reader 30, camera 40, and other external devices using a predetermined communication protocol.

The notification unit 56 is composed of one or more devices selected from a light source such as an LED, a buzzer, a speaker, a vibrator, etc. Under the control of the control unit 51 (determination unit 513), the notification unit 56 issues various notifications using light, sound, vibration, etc., such as an alert when the printing plate 10 is stored in the wrong storage unit 23.

The item management device 50 may be provided on the side of the item manager, allowing the manager to view the display unit 53, operate the operation reception unit 54, and receive notifications from the notification unit 56. Alternatively, the item management device 50 may be provided on or near the storage rack 20, allowing an operator to view the display unit 53, operate the operation reception unit 54, and receive notifications from the notification unit 56. Furthermore, the components of the item management device 50 may be installed separately, such as by providing an information processing device including the control unit 51 and memory unit 52 of the item management device 50 on the manager's side, and providing the display unit 53 and/or notification unit 56 on or near the storage rack 20 instead of or together with the manager's side. This configuration also allows the manager and/or operator to appropriately understand the insertion and removal status of the printing plates 10 depending on the management purpose.

An example of the operation of the item management system 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operational flow of the item management process (program) executed by the item management device 50. It is assumed that the RFID reader 30, camera 40, and item management device 50 are powered on, the item management application is started by the control unit 51, and the RFID reader 30, camera 40, and item management device 50 are capable of sending and receiving data to and from each other.

The RFID reader 30 transmits a first radio wave RW1 from the sheet antenna 32 at a predetermined time interval. When a stamping plate 10 is stored in the storage rack 20, the electronic tag 13 attached to the stamping plate 10 receives the first radio wave RW1 and transmits a second radio wave RW2 containing item information such as an ID number. The RFID reader 30 receives this second radio wave RW2 and, based on the number of receptions and radio wave strength, transmits to the item management device 50 the item information, including the ID number, obtained from all second radio waves RW2 that it determines to have been properly received as described above, along with the acquisition times when these second radio waves RW2 were received (acquired).

The steps of the flowchart shown in Figure 5 are initiated by receiving input of the item information and acquisition time from the RFID reader 30. First, in step S1, the identification unit 511 of the item management device 50 acquires the item information and acquisition time input from the RFID reader 30, and in step S2, acquires ID numbers from all of the acquired item information. This ID number can be used to identify the stamping plates 10 stored in the storage rack 20. In the next step S3, the identification unit 511 searches the management information table 522 of the memory unit 52 using the acquired ID number as a key. Next, in step S4, the identification unit 511 compares the ID number stored in the management information table 522 (i.e., the ID number of the stamping plate 10 acquired previously) with the ID number acquired this time, and determines whether the newly acquired ID number is not registered in the "ID number" field of the management information table 522.

When it is determined that a newly acquired ID number has been obtained (YES in step S4), in the next step S5, the identification unit 511 recognizes the stamping plate 10 to which that ID number has been assigned as a newly stored stamping plate 10, and sets the acquisition time to the storage time when the stamping plate 10 was stored. The program then proceeds to step S8.

On the other hand, if it is determined that no newly acquired ID numbers have been obtained (NO in step S4), the program proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the identification unit 511 determines whether there are any ID numbers that are registered in the "ID number" field of the management information table 522 but that could not be obtained this time. If it is determined that there are any ID numbers that could not be obtained this time (YES in step S6), in the next step S7, the identification unit 511 identifies the stamping plate 10 corresponding to that ID number as the stamping plate 10 that was taken out, and sets the acquisition time to the storage time when the stamping plate 10 was stored. The program then proceeds to step S8.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S6 is NO, meaning that there are no ID numbers that could not be obtained this time, the program proceeds to END, assuming that no new stamping plates 10 have been stored or removed. Then, while the item management system 100 is operating, the item management device 50 repeats the processing of steps S1 to S13.

In the next step S8, the location information acquisition unit 512 acquires a captured image from the camera 40, analyzes the acquired captured image, and in step S9, acquires the management number of the storage unit 23 as location information of the storage unit 23 from which the printing plate 10 was taken in or out.

The next step S10 is executed when a new stamping plate 10 is stored, in the case where an alert is issued. In contrast, if an alert is not issued, or if the stamping plate 10 has been removed, the program skips step S10 and proceeds to step S11. In step S10, the determination unit 513 determines whether the stamping plate 10 has been stored in the appropriate storage unit 23 based on the ID number and location information. If it is determined that the stamping plate 10 has been stored appropriately (a YES determination in step S10), the program proceeds to the next step S11.

Then, in step S11, the registration unit 514 updates (registers) the management information table 522 in the memory unit 52 for the stamping plate 10 that was taken in or out. At this time, if a new stamping plate 10 is stored, the ID number and storage time of that stamping plate 10 are set in the management information record corresponding to the management number of the storage unit 23 in which it was stored, and the management information table 522 is updated. On the other hand, if a stamping plate 10 is removed, the ID number in the management information record corresponding to the management number is deleted, the removal time is set, and the number of uses is counted up, updating the management information table 522. The program then proceeds to step S13.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the stamping plate 10 was not stored in the appropriate storage section 23 (stored in the wrong storage section 23) (the determination in step S10 is NO), the program proceeds to step S12, and the determination unit 513 controls the notification unit 56 to alert the worker or manager by light, vibration, buzzer sound, or voice (for example, "The storage location is incorrect. Please store it in the correct location."). This notification allows the worker or manager to realize that the stamping plate 10 has been stored in the wrong storage section 23, and the worker can store the stamping plate 10 in the appropriate storage section 23, or the manager can instruct the worker to store it again.

After this notification, the program proceeds to END, but by repeating the process from step S1, the item management process is executed again for the stamping plate 10 that the worker has stored in the appropriate storage section 23. Alternatively, the worker may not notice the notification and the stamping plate 10 may remain stored in the wrong storage section 23. Even in such cases, the program may be configured to proceed to step S11 after the notification in order to register information about the stored stamping plate 10 in the management information table 522.

In step S13, the display control unit 515 acquires all management information from the management information table 522 in the memory unit 52, generates a display control signal for displaying the item management screen G1 based on the acquired management information, and sends it to the display unit 53. In response to the display control signal, the display unit 53 displays the item management screen G1 on its display surface, as shown in FIG. 4. By visually checking this item management screen G1, workers and managers can properly understand the status of the printing plates 10 (which printing plates 10 are stored and which printing plates 10 have been taken out). In addition, the user can print the list of this item management screen G1 or output it to a file by issuing a print operation command from the operation reception unit 54.

The program then proceeds to END, and while the item management system 100 is running, the item management device 50 repeats the processing of steps S1 to S13. As a result, the item management system 100 can automatically and accurately manage the loading and unloading status of printing plates 10 in the storage rack 20.

Second Embodiment
Next, an item management system 100A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. The item management system 100A according to the second embodiment has the same basic configuration as the first embodiment shown in Figures 1A to 2, except for the configuration of the storage rack 20A and the position of the electronic tag 13 attached to the printing plate 10. Therefore, the following description will mainly focus on the components that differ from the first embodiment.

The item management system 100A according to the second embodiment includes an electronic tag 13 attached to the printing plate 10, a storage rack 20A, an RFID reader 30, a camera 40, and an item management device 50. The RFID reader 30, camera 40, and item management device 50 may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

As in the first embodiment, the stamping plate 10 comprises a stamping plate body 11, a pair of supports 12 (12a, 12b), and an electronic tag 13. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the electronic tag 13 is attached to one side of the support 12a in the longitudinal direction (X direction), which is the front side when the stamping plate 10 is stored in the storage rack 20A. Information on this electronic tag 13 can be obtained by an RFID reader 30 provided on one side of the front side of the storage body 22A.

In the first embodiment, the electronic tag 13 is attached to the center of the support 12a in the X direction, and the RFID reader 30 is also installed in the center of the storage rack 20 in the X direction. Therefore, even if the printing plate 10 is stored upside down, the position of the electronic tag 13 does not change, and the information on the electronic tag 13 can be properly acquired by the RFID reader 30.

In contrast, in the second embodiment, if the printing plate 10 is stored upside down, the electronic tag 13 will be located at the back in the X direction, which may make it difficult for the RFID reader 30 to obtain information from the electronic tag 13. To ensure that the information from the electronic tag 13 can be properly read even in such cases, the electronic tag 13 may be attached to one side and the other side of the support 12a. Furthermore, in consideration of the possibility that the printing plate 10 may be stored upside down, the electronic tag 13 may also be attached to one side and the other side of the other support 12b. With this configuration, the number of electronic tags 13 used increases, but the RFID reader 30 can more properly obtain information from the electronic tags 13.

As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the storage rack 20A of the second embodiment comprises a frame 21 and a storage body 22A. The frame 21 can have the same configuration as in the first embodiment. The storage body 22A is formed to be wide in the X and Z directions. The storage body 22A has multiple partitioned storage sections 23 (23-1, 23-2, ..., 23-n) arranged in the Z direction, and a label section 24. A sheet antenna 32 of an RFID reader 30 is built in or externally attached to the front side of the storage body 22A in the X direction.

Each storage section 23 is composed of a hollow rectangular tube (rail member) approximately the same length as the support 12 in the X direction, and is capable of storing almost the entire support 12 for the stamping plate 10. Each storage section 23 has an insertion opening 231 (231-1, 231-2, ..., 231-n) that opens at least at one end on the front side in the Z direction, a groove 232 (232-1, 232-2, ..., 232-n) that penetrates the lower wall and extends elongated in the X direction, a storage space 233 (233-1, 233-2, ..., 233-n) that stores the support 12, and an opening 234 (234-1, 234-2, ..., 234-n).

Each opening 234 is formed by cutting out a predetermined length in the upper wall surface on the front side in the Z direction of the rectangular tube that constitutes the storage section 23. When the support 12 for the stamping plate 10 is stored in each storage section 23, one side of the support 12 with the electronic tag 13 attached is exposed from each opening 234. This allows the camera 40 to photograph the storage space 233 of each storage section 23, and image analysis can be used to properly distinguish between storage sections 23 in which the stamping plate 10 is stored and storage sections 23 in which the stamping plate 10 is not stored (removed). It is also possible to form the storage section 23 from a transparent material, wire, etc., without providing the opening 234, and expose the support 12.

The item management system 100A of the second embodiment can also appropriately manage the printing plates 10 stored in the storage rack 20A by executing the item management process (program) as described in the first embodiment using the flowchart of Figure 5.

As described above, in the first and second embodiments, the identification unit 511 distinguishes between stamping plates 10 that have been taken in or out, i.e., stamping plates 10 that have been newly stored in the storage rack 20, and stamping plates 10 that have been removed from the storage rack 20, based on the identification information (ID number) of the electronic tag 13 acquired by the RFID reader 30. The location information acquisition unit 512 then acquires location information for stamping plates 10 that have been taken in or out by analyzing the images captured by the camera 40. Therefore, it is possible to provide an item management device 50, item management method, program, and item management system 100, 100A that can acquire location information for items that have been taken in or out of storage equipment with higher accuracy and perform item management more appropriately.

In addition, each of the above embodiments includes a determination unit 513 that determines whether an item (printing plate 10) has been stored in a predetermined storage section 23 based on the item's identification information (ID number) and location information (control number), and issues an alert when it determines that the item has not been stored in the predetermined storage section 23. This alert allows a worker or the like to re-store the item in an appropriate location, enabling more appropriate item management.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, if the identification unit 411 is configured to acquire information from electronic tags 13 for which the number of times radio waves have been received exceeds a threshold, and/or information from electronic tags 13 for which the radio wave strength exceeds a threshold, it is possible to prevent the acquisition of information from electronic tags 13 of items that are not subject to management. This enables more accurate item management.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, if the registration unit 514 registers in the memory unit 52 the management information including at least one of the time the item was stored in the storage unit 23, the time the item was removed from the storage unit 23, and the number of times the item was removed from the storage unit, more detailed item management will be possible. Furthermore, if the item is a consumable item such as a printing plate 10, it will be possible to appropriately determine when to replace it or when to prepare a spare item.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, a display control unit 515 is provided that causes the display unit 53 to display an item management screen G1 showing the status of items being taken in and out based on management information obtained from the memory unit 52. This allows workers and others to visually and appropriately grasp the status of items being taken in and out, enabling more appropriate item management.

The item management device, item management process, program, and item management system disclosed herein have been described above based on embodiments and modifications, but the specific configurations are not limited to these. Design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention as defined in each claim.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, when the stamping plate 10 is stored in the wrong storage section 23, the notification unit 56 issues an alert to the user using light, vibration, a buzzer sound, or voice. In contrast, in another different embodiment, the notification unit 56 may include the display unit 53, and an alert message or image may be displayed on the display unit 53. Alternatively, the storage section 23 in which the stamping plate 10 has been mistakenly stored on the item management screen G1 may be notified by changing the color or flashing the management number, or the correct storage section 23 may be notified by changing the color or flashing the management number.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, in order to easily identify whether the stamp plate 10 is being inserted or removed based on the captured image, the storage section 23 is made shorter than the stamp plate 10, an opening 234 is provided in the storage section 23, or the storage section 23 is made of a transparent material or wire, thereby exposing a portion of the stamp plate 10, but this configuration is not limited to this. Even if the storage section 23 is configured to store the entire item, such as the stamp plate 10, by capturing images with the camera 40 of the item being placed in the storage section 23 and the item being removed from the storage section 23, the location information acquisition unit 512 can appropriately identify the insertion and removal of items into and from the storage section 23 through image analysis.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the support 12 and the storage section 23 that stores it are formed with approximately the same shape from one end to the other, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the support 12a may be tapered so that the thickness is thickest at the front side when stored in the storage section 23 and gradually decreases toward the back, and a tapered storage space 233 that is wider at the front and narrower at the back may be formed in the storage section 23 corresponding to this tapered shape. Furthermore, the shape of the support 12a may be asymmetrical vertically or horizontally, and the storage space 233 of the storage section 23 may be formed in a shape that corresponds to the shape of the support 12a. With a support 12a and storage section 23 of this shape, the printing plate 10 can be stored in the storage section 23 only from the correct orientation, preventing it from being stored upside down or upside down. As a result, there is no need to attach multiple electronic tags 13 to one stamping plate 10, reducing the cost of using the electronic tags 13, and the electronic tags 13 are properly positioned, allowing the RFID reader 30 to read information more appropriately.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the storage racks 20, 20A, which are storage devices, store the printing plates 10, which are items, by hanging them in a single row. However, the storage device is not limited to this configuration and may be any device with partitioned storage sections. For example, it may be a storage device with storage sections arranged in one or more rows horizontally (front-to-back, left-to-right), such as a storage box or storage basket, or a storage device with storage sections arranged in one or more rows vertically (up-down, left-to-right), such as a shelf or locker, on which items are placed for storage.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the item to be managed is a stamping plate 10, but the item is not limited to a stamping plate 10 and can be any item that is equipped with an RFID tag and is stored in or removed from a storage device having multiple compartments. The item management device, item management method, program, and item management system disclosed herein can be applied to any item.

The item management device, item management method, program, and item management system disclosed herein can be particularly useful for managing specimen containers, such as test tubes containing specimens such as blood, and for managing tools used in machining, electrical work, carpentry, and other work. More specifically, an item management system can be provided that includes an electronic tag attached to a specimen container, a compartmented storage rack capable of storing multiple specimen containers at predetermined intervals, an RFID reader with one or more sheet antennas capable of reading information from the multiple electronic tags, and an item management device. This configuration also allows for appropriate management of the status of specimen containers being inserted into and removed from the storage rack, and allows specimen containers to be stored in appropriate locations, thereby preventing sample container mix-ups and other issues. Furthermore, when the present disclosure is applied to tool management, users can accurately grasp the status of tools being inserted and removed and their storage locations, allowing them to appropriately select and store tools and improve work efficiency.

10: Printing plate (article)
13: Electronic tag 23: Storage section 30: RFID reader (reading device)
40: Camera (imaging device)
50: Item management device 51: Control unit 52: Storage unit 53: Display unit 100: Item management system 100A: Item management system 411: Identification unit 511: Identification unit 512: Position information acquisition unit 513: Determination unit 514: Registration unit 515: Display control unit G1: Item management screen

Claims (7)

An article management device for managing articles stored in a storage device having a plurality of partitioned storage sections,
a storage unit in which management information of the item is stored;
an identification unit that acquires information including identification information of an electronic tag attached to the item, and identifies the item that has been put into or taken out of the storage unit based on the identification information and the management information acquired from the storage unit;
a position information acquisition unit that acquires photographed images of the vicinity of the plurality of storage units and acquires position information of the items that have been put in or taken out based on the photographed images;
a determination unit that determines whether the item is stored in the predetermined storage unit based on the identification information and the position information of the item, and issues a notification when it is determined that the item is not stored in the predetermined storage unit;
a registration unit that registers management information in which the identification information, the location information, and the insertion/removal state are associated with each other in the storage unit;
An article management device comprising: The item management device described in claim 1, characterized in that the identification unit acquires the information from the electronic tag whose number of radio wave receptions exceeds a threshold, and/or the information from the electronic tag whose radio wave strength exceeds a threshold. The item management device described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the registration unit includes at least one of the time the item was stored in the storage unit, the time the item was removed from the storage unit, and the number of times the item was removed from the storage unit in the management information and registers it in the memory unit. The item management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a display control unit that displays an item management screen on a display unit showing the status of the items being taken in and out based on the management information acquired from the memory unit. 1. An article management method for managing articles stored in a storage device having a plurality of partitioned storage sections, comprising:
an identification step of acquiring information including identification information of an electronic tag attached to the item, and identifying the item that has been put into or taken out of the storage unit based on the identification information and management information of the item stored in a storage unit;
a position information acquisition step of acquiring photographed images of the vicinity of the plurality of storage sections and acquiring position information of the items that have been put in or taken out based on the photographed images;
a determining step of determining whether the item has been stored in the predetermined storage section based on the identification information and the position information of the item, and reporting when it is determined that the item has not been stored in the predetermined storage section;
a registration step of registering management information in the storage unit, the management information associating the identification information, the location information, and the insertion/removal state;
An article management method comprising: Computer,
a storage unit for storing management information of items stored in a storage device having a plurality of partitioned storage sections;
an identification unit that acquires information including identification information of an electronic tag attached to the item, and identifies the item that has been put into or taken out of the storage unit based on the identification information and the management information acquired from the storage unit;
a position information acquisition unit that acquires photographed images of the vicinity of the plurality of storage units and acquires position information of the items that have been put in or taken out based on the photographed images;
a determination unit that determines whether the item is stored in the predetermined storage unit based on the identification information and the position information of the item, and issues a notification when it is determined that the item is not stored in the predetermined storage unit;
a program that functions as a registration unit that registers management information that associates the identification information, the location information, and the insertion/removal status in the storage unit; An article management system for managing articles stored in a storage device having a plurality of partitioned storage sections,
an electronic tag attached to the item;
An article management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
a reading device that reads information including identification information of the item from the electronic tag of the item stored in the storage unit and sends the information to the item management device ;
an imaging device that takes images of the vicinity of the plurality of storage units and transmits the taken images to the item management device ;
An article management system comprising: